The difference is particularly significant in the case of food allergies, 59% higher in obese children and adolescents.
The obese children are 26% more likely to have an allergy, especially food, as demonstrated by the findings of a study conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and U.S. published in the latest issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Indeed, as the authors acknowledge, the study does not clarify whether obesity causes allergies, but suggests that control excess weight in young people would be important to decrease the rates of childhood allergies and asthma.
In the words of Dr. Darryl Zeldin, clinical director of the NIEHS and principal investigator of work, “we found a positive association between obesity and allergies. The signal appears to come mainly allergic allergies to food. And is that the rate of food allergy was 59% higher in obese children.
To perform the study, the researchers analyzed data on 4,000 children and young people from 2 to 19 years, including information on allergies and asthma. The authors observed a number of factors including the overall levels of antibodies and allergens, body weight and responses to a questionnaire about diagnosis of hay fever, eczema and other allergies. Children who had body mass index (BMI) among their age were considered obese.
Finally, regarding the results showed that antibodies specific to specific allergens were higher among children who were overweight or obese.
